Blood Ties

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

        He was special. There is no doubt in her mind that he was an anomaly, a beauty amongst ugliness, a rose amongst thorns. He could take the most damaged, evil, battered among people and turn them into something great, just by being himself.

        And she misses him, so much.

        She isn’t allowed to mourn very long, for they all insist that with their recent losses, Ignis is no longer safe for their princess. It isn’t fair, not to her, not to him, and not to his brother.

        She worries for his brother very much; he has lost such a great amount in such a small amount of time. It can’t be healthy, especially with him blaming himself for each loss. Her heart breaks for him, but she knows she can’t comfort him, no matter what she does or says.

        He hates himself and loves others too much for comfort.

 

        “Star.”

        Star, with some effort, forced her eyes open, surprised at the tears streaming down her face and the coldness that has taken a grip on her heart. She placed a hand over her chest, feeling as though it was too heavy for her to sit up. Marco loomed over her, an expression of worry on his face.

        With an even greater effort, Star sat up, stifling a moan and disguising it with a yawn. “Morning.” Her voice was weak and a bit raspy.

        “Are you okay?” he asked, assessing her with a critical glare.

        “Yup, dandy,” she replied, the heaviness receding a tad but the memory of the dream remaining. For once, it actually made sense, but a startling sort of sense; she almost wished she hadn’t remembered it.

        No, I don’t. That would be disrespecting his memory.

        Chewing at her lips, Star struggled to her feet, blushing slightly.  Marco stared a few more seconds at her before he turned away, packing their camping materials. Star rolled her pallet up and shoved it back into its bag, attaching it to her horse.

        The general and the sergeant had already finished packing and were both sipping at mugs of coffee. Star’s mouth watered at the smell, and thought them very rude not to offer any to her. She hadn’t had coffee since she left Georgia, and a lifetime had passed since then. Still, the aroma enticed her and drew her thoughts away from her dream, so she was thankful for that much.

        “Ready?” Marco asked, saddling her horse for her. She smiled, nodding, and spun around to bid farewell to the general.

        The general bowed and kissed her hand once again, but Star, now used to it, just blushed and tucked her hand behind her back. He turned towards Marco and embraced him, a distant smile on his face. “Good luck, Marco.”

        Marco pressed his lips together, stepping away from the embrace with some uncertainty. “Um, you too.”

        Smirking good-naturedly, Snow mounted his horse, rearing its head towards the road. The sergeant nodded his farewell and followed suit. They took off in the opposite way, the general only looking back once to send a wink in their direction. Then there was nothing left but dust, and the road was as lonely and barren as before.

        Marco inhaled loudly, his expression torn between relief and forlornness. Star smiled, more crookedly than normal, and shook her head.